Four Connacht men in Ireland Sevens squad

As the Ireland men's Sevens programme continues to build towards the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in June and July, IRFU director of Sevens rugby Anthony Eddy named a 14-man squad to take part in a two-day training camp in Cardiff this week.

As the Ireland men's Sevens programme continues to build towards the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in June and July, IRFU director of Sevens rugby Anthony Eddy named a 14-man squad to take part in a two-day training camp in Cardiff this week.

Two members of the Connacht Academy, Conor Lowndes and Ed O'Keeffe, are named in the squad.

Connacht's Jordan Conroy. Photo: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Former Connacht back - and Leitrim man - Shane Layden is included, while Buccaneers man Jordan Conroy, who has featured for the Connacht Eagles side, is also in Wales.

The squad trained with the Welsh men's Sevens panel yesterday, and with the English team today.

Both of these teams are currently competing on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, with England winning the most recent stage in Cape Town.

Ahead of the camp, y Eddy said: "This week's camp will provide the players involved the opportunity to continue to develop their rugby Sevens skills in a competitive and challenging environment.

Shane Layden. Photo: INPHO/James Crombie

"It's important that the players are building and developing all the time as we build towards the Rugby Europe Grand Prix this summer and the opportunity to train with and against players that are competing on the World Rugby Sevens Series will offer our players the chance to do that."

Next month, Ireland will welcome England to Dublin where the sides will again train against each other.